Systems and methods for automatically accessing internet information from a local application on a handheld internet appliance

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for automatically accessing Internet information and local applications from another local application on a handheld Internet appliance is provided. The systems and methods of the present invention consist of a software solution that enables users of handheld Internet appliances to interact with the Internet and other local applications from any local application in the handheld Internet appliance. Each local application is equipped with a user interface to enable users quick and easy access to Internet information and other local applications.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to systems and methods for providingaccess to Internet information using a handheld Internet appliance. Morespecifically, the present invention provides systems and methods foraccessing Internet information from a local application on a handheldInternet appliance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The Internet and the World Wide Web (hereinafter “the web”) haverevolutionized the ways in which information is disseminated and shared.At any given time, the Internet enables millions of users worldwide tosimultaneously access a wide variety of information and engage inactivities as diverse as shopping, playing games, financial trading,among others.

At present, users can access Internet information through various“Internet appliances”, which are electronic devices configured with anInternet access system. Internet appliances include, but are not limitedto, microprocessor based devices such as personal and portablecomputers, and handheld appliances such as personal digital assistantsand electronic organizers.

Typically, the information is accessed through a connection to a “webpage”, a multimedia composition that may contain text, audio, graphics,imagery, video, and nearly any other type of content that may beexperienced through use of a computer or other electronic device. A webpage may also be interactive, and contain user selectable links thatcause other web pages to be displayed, forms that may be used by theuser to submit information requested in the web page, interactiveexecutable code, or other elements through which the user may interactwith web pages. A group of one or more interconnected and closelyrelated web pages is referred to as a “web site”.

A web site has a particular address associated with it called a UniformResource Locator (“URL”). To view a particular web site, users input itscorresponding URL on a “web browser window” displayed by “web browsersoftware”, such as Internet Explorer, available from MicrosoftCorporation, of Redmond, Wash. The web browser software runs on theuser's Internet appliance and is responsible for fetching theinformation displayed on the web site from a “web server” using atransfer protocol such as the HyperText Transfer Protocol (“HTTP”).

While most of the traffic on the Internet is initiated from personalcomputers, the growing demand by mobile business users to have access toInternet information from anywhere in the world has led to developmentof various Internet access technologies for handheld Internet appliancessuch as wireless telephones and personal digital assistants (“PDAs”). Inparticular, it has become increasingly popular to access informationavailable in the Internet via PDAs, such as the Palm handheld devicesmanufactured by Palm, Inc., of Santa Clara, Calif., the Handspring Visormanufactured by Handspring, Inc., of Mountain View, Calif., and the HPJornada manufactured by the Hewlett-Packard Company of Palo Alto, Calif.

A PDA provides computing and information storage and retrievalcapabilities for personal or business use, often for keeping schedulecalendars and address book information handy. Information is accessed bymeans of an electronically sensitive pad on which handwriting can bereceived. Currently available PDAs contain a number of useful localapplications including an address book, a calendar, a memo pad, acalculator, and a to-do list, among others. Users are provided with aspecial pen called a stylus to write on the pad and “tap” on icons onthe PDA screen corresponding to the PDA applications. In addition, PDAexpansion slots may be used to enhance the PDA capabilities with adigital camera, a GPS receiver, a scanner, and other devices. Recentlydeveloped PDAs such as the PDA Phone manufactured by SamsungElectronics, Co., Ltd., of Seoul, South Korea, and the Kyocera QCP 6035Smartphone manufactured by Kyocera Wireless Corp., of San Diego, Calif.,combine the functionalities of a PDA and a wireless phone into a singlehandheld appliance.

The Internet is accessed on a PDA by means of a wireless modem andInternet access software. The wireless modem may either be internallyintegrated into the PDA such as in the case of the Palm VIIx,manufactured by Palm, Inc., or connected externally as an expansionmodule. External wireless modems include the Thinmodem manufactured byCard Access, Inc., of American Fork, Utah, and the various modemsmanufactured by Novatel Wireless, Inc., of San Diego, Calif. TheInternet access software may consist of a microbrowser, which is asimpler version of a web browser with reduced graphic capabilities, anda variety of APIs (application program interfaces) and associatedapplications for formatting and displaying web pages on the PDA screen.

There are many advantages in being able to access the Internet with aPDA. The PDA is extremely mobile and can be utilized by business personsand consumers who are traveling or otherwise do not have access to adesktop computer. The PDA enables business persons and consumers tomanage, share, and secure the information needed on a daily basis. A PDAuser can access the Internet to read e-mails, search for a restaurant,obtain a map and driving directions, purchase airline tickets or shop,all without the need for a traditional, desktop computer.

However, accessing the Internet using a PDA has several drawbacks.First, it can be a very time consuming process, requiring users to workthrough many options in order to access the desired information. Many“taps” may be needed in order to browse the web and view otherinformation stored in the PDA. Second, the wireless Internet connectionmay be unreliable, and the user may have to wait a significant amount oftime to receive the requested information. Lastly, it can be extremelycumbersome for the user to access Internet information from local PDAapplications.

For instance, a user who wants to obtain driving directions to or from agiven address saved in the PDA's address book is required to perform anumber of steps, including: (1) starting the address book application toget the address; (2) quitting the address book application; (3)connecting to the web site that provides driving directions; (4) andmanually entering the address into an on-line form available in the website.

In order to make travel arrangements for meetings listed on the PDA'scalendar, the user must first quit the calendar application beforeconnecting to a web site for making travel reservations, and thenmanually enter the departure date, time, location and destination, aswell as a return date and time. Similarly, a user who is using the PDA'saddress book to find an e-mail address before sending an e-mail mustfirst get the e-mail address in the address book and quit the addressbook application before starting the e-mail application and manuallyentering the e-mail address in the address field of the e-mail. Inshort, it can be inordinately difficult and time consuming for the PDAuser to access Internet information from local PDA applications.

In view of the foregoing drawbacks, it would be desirable to providesystems and methods for automatically accessing Internet informationfrom a local application on a handheld Internet appliance.

It further would be desirable to provide systems and methods foraccessing Internet information associated with a data record of a localapplication on a handheld Internet appliance.

It still further would be desirable to provide systems and methods forautomatically launching e-mail and Internet web sites from a localapplication on a handheld Internet appliance.

It also would be desirable to provide systems and methods forautomatically launching a local application from another localapplication on a handheld Internet appliance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention toprovide methods and apparatus for automatically accessing Internetinformation from a local application on a handheld Internet appliance.

It is another object of the present invention to provide systems andmethods for accessing Internet information associated with a data recordof a local application on a handheld Internet appliance.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide systems andmethods for automatically launching e-mail and Internet web sites from alocal application on a handheld Internet appliance.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide systems andmethods for automatically launching a local application from anotherlocal application on a handheld Internet appliance.

These and other objects of the present invention are accomplished byproviding systems and methods for automatically accessing Internetinformation from a local application on a handheld Internet appliance. Alocal application consists of any software application used in handheldInternet appliance 20, such as personal information manager (PIM)applications including an address book, a calendar, a memo pad, acalculator, and a to-do list, a web browser application, a wordprocessing application, a spreadsheet application, among others. Thesystems and methods consist of a software solution that enables users ofhandheld Internet appliances to enhance local applications with Internetcapabilities. Each local application is equipped with an action userinterface that lets users access Internet information with a single tap.

In a preferred embodiment, the systems and methods of the presentinvention involve three main software components: (1) a softwareplug-in; (2) an action user interface; and (3) an action database. Thesoftware plug-in enables users of a handheld Internet appliance to haveaccess to a number of Internet actions associated with a localapplication. The Internet actions are accessed by means of acustomizable action user interface that is unique to each localapplication. An action database stores the information required tocreate the items in the user interface and their links to web sites andother local applications.

Advantageously, the present invention enables users to automaticallylaunch e-mail and web sites from a local application as well asautomatically launch local applications from other local applications.

In addition, the present invention enables users to access Internetinformation associated with a data record of a local application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention will beapparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like referencecharacters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the system and the network environment inwhich the present invention operates;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a preferred embodiment of the softwarecomponents of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the action database in accordance with theprinciples of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for using the systems and methods of the presentinvention to launch a web site or a local application from another localapplication;

FIG. 5 is an illustrative view of action menu items accessible from anylocal application;

FIG. 6 is an illustrative view of action menu items accessible from theaddress book application;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary URL and associated parameters launched from theaddress book application to find driving directions to a selectedaddress saved in the address book; and

FIG. 8 is an illustrative of a handheld Internet appliance screendisplaying an address stored in the address book and an action userinterface for allowing the user to launch e-mail and web sitesdisplaying information associated with the address.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic view of the system and the networkenvironment in which the present invention operates is described.Handheld Internet appliance 20 uses a wireless modem and Internet accesssoftware to connect to Internet 22 by means of a wireless networkrepresented by base station 21. Handheld Internet appliance 20 mayconsist of a personal digital assistant (PDA) such as the Palm handhelddevices manufactured by Palm, Inc., of Santa Clara, Calif., theHandspring Visor manufactured by Handspring, Inc., of Mountain View,Calif., and the HP Jornada manufactured by the Hewlett-Packard Companyof Palo Alto, Calif. Handheld Internet appliance 20 may also consist ofappliances having the functions of a PDA and a cellular phone, such asthe PDA Phone manufactured by Samsung Electronics, Co., Ltd., of Seoul,South Korea, and the Kyocera QCP 6035 Smartphone manufactured by KyoceraWireless Corp., of San Diego, Calif.

Handheld Internet appliance 20 has an electronically sensitive pad andscreen on which handwriting can be received and visualized. HandheldInternet appliance 20 typically contains a number of useful localapplications, which consist of any software application used in handheldInternet appliance 20, such as PIM applications including an addressbook, a calendar, a memo pad, a calculator, and a to-do list, a webbrowser application, a word processing application, a spreadsheetapplication, among others. Additional software applications such asgames, spreadsheet programs, document processors, dictionaries, andothers, may be easily added to handheld Internet appliance 20. Users areprovided with a special pen called a stylus to write on the pad and“tap” on icons on the screen corresponding to the availableapplications. Handheld Internet appliance 20 has a main menu to displaythe application icons to the user. In addition, expansion slots may beused to enhance the capabilities of handheld Internet appliance 20 witha digital camera, a GPS receiver, a scanner, and other devices.

To protect the data saved in handheld Internet appliance 20, asynchronization technology may be used to synchronize the data fromhandheld Internet appliance 20 to a personal computer. Like a personalcomputer, handheld Internet appliance 20 has an operating system tomanage its applications, input and output functions and devices, memorysharing, among other functions. Examples of currently availableoperating systems for handheld Internet appliance 20 include the PalmOS, developed by Palm, Inc., and the Windows CE, developed by MicrosoftCorporation, of Redmond, Wash.

Handheld Internet appliance 20 connects to Internet 22 by means of awireless modem. The wireless modem may be internally integrated intohandheld Internet appliance 20 such as in the case of the Palm VIIx,manufactured by Palm, Inc., or connected externally as an expansionmodule. External wireless modems include the Thinmodem manufactured byCard Access, Inc., of American Fork, Utah, and the various modemsmanufactured by Novatel Wireless, Inc., of San Diego, Calif. In additionto the wireless modem, handheld Internet appliance 20 requires Internetaccess software to enable users to connect to the Internet. The Internetaccess software may consist of a microbrowser, which is a simplerversion of a web browser with reduced graphic capabilities, and avariety of APIs (application program interfaces) and associatedapplications for formatting and displaying web pages on the PDA screen.

Users of handheld Internet appliance 20 connect to Internet 22 to accesse-mail and various web pages that are formatted for proper display onthe screen of handheld Internet appliance 20. The web pages may beformatted in advance for a specific handheld Internet appliance 20 atthe web server associated with the web site containing the web pages.Alternatively, the web sites may be formatted at transcoding server 23.Transcoding server 23 is a server that formats web pages for display byhandheld Internet appliance 20. Transcoding server 23 may also add tothe web pages user interfaces and links to local applications onhandheld Internet appliance 20.

In accord with one embodiment of the present invention, handheldInternet appliance 20 has software components 24 to enable users toaccess Internet information from local applications. Software components24 enable users to automatically launch e-mail and web sites from alocal application as well as automatically launch local applicationsfrom another local application. For example, users of handheld Internetappliance 20 may launch the address book application from the calendarapplication. In addition, software components 24 enable users to accessInternet information associated with a data record of a localapplication. For example, a user can request driving directions to anaddress record saved in the address book application, make travelreservations for a meeting scheduled on the calendar application, sendan e-mail to a friend from the address book application, check financialinformation for a stock noted in the memo pad, among others. Softwarecomponents 24 consist of software routines or objects that performvarious functions and may be used alone or in combination with othercomponents. In a preferred embodiment, software components 24 consist ofa software plug-in, an action user interface, and an action database.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a schematic view of a referred embodiment ofthe software components of the resent invention is described. Softwarecomponents consist of: (1) software plug-in 25; (2) action userinterfaces 26; and (3) action database 27.

Software plug-in 25 enables users to have access to a number of Internetactions associated with a local application on handheld Internetappliance 20. Software plug-in 25 performs a variety of functions,including: (1) launching other local applications such as e-mail from alocal application; (2) accessing web sites from a local application; (3)creating items for action user interfaces 26 including their links toweb sites and other local applications based on the information storedin action database 27; and (4) replacing parameters associated with adata record on a web site's URL when the web site is requested todisplay information associated with the data record. In this case, thedata record may be stored in a local database associated with a localapplication, or the data record may be displayed on another web site.Software plug-in 25 is also responsible for keeping the action itemsstored in action database 27 current.

In the preferred embodiment, software plug-in 25 also enables a user toautomatically save items from a web site into a local PIM application asdescribed in copending, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/834,380, filed onApr. 13, 2001 and conversely, automatically fill the web sites' on-lineforms with data records from a local PIM application as described incopending, U.S. application Ser. No. 09/834,379 filed on Apr. 13, 2001.

In a preferred embodiment, the web site API is referred to as theOneTap™ API, the software plug-in is referred to as the OneTap™ softwareplug-in, the user interface is referred to as the OneTap™ userinterface, the favorites database is referred to as the OneTap™favorites database, and the database browser is referred to as theOneTap™ database browser.

Action user interfaces 26 consist of a set of user interfaces, with eachuser interface optimized for a given local application. Each userinterface of action user interfaces 26 is displayed to the user as a“button” or icon that may be tapped by the user with a stylus. Oncetapped, the button displays an action menu containing items that may beperformed by the user from the local application. Such items includelaunching other local applications, launching web sites, returning tothe main menu, disconnecting from the Internet, among others. Actiondatabase 27 stores the information required to create the items in theaction menus of action user interfaces 26.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a schematic view of the action database inaccordance with the principles of the present invention is described.Action database 27 contains fields 27 a-e in its columns. Each row ofaction database 27 contains a unique record or instance of data forfields 27 a-e.

Action Type field 27 a stores the type of action that may be performedby an user from a local application. The types of action includelaunching another local application, launching a web site, returning tothe main menu of handheld Internet appliance 20, disconnecting from theInternet, among others. Action name field 27 b stores the name of anaction that may be performed by the user. The actions performed varyaccording to the local application.

Action Context field 27 c stores the list of contexts or localapplications in which a particular action appears. In case the actionconsists of launching a web site, Action URL field 27 d stores the URLand its associated parameters. The associated parameters are extractedfrom a given data record of the local application from which the website is launched. For instance, for a web site providing maps anddriving directions, the URL parameters consist of an address recordsaved in the address book of handheld Internet appliance 20.

In case the action consists of launching an application, Actionapplication field 27 e stores the name of the local application to belaunched.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a flowchart for using the systems and methodsof the present invention to launch a web site or a local applicationfrom another local application is described. At step 29, the user opensa local application by tapping on the icon corresponding to the localapplication on the main menu of handheld Internet appliance 20. At step30, the user has an option to select a data record saved in the localapplication to access Internet information associated with the datarecord. For example, if the user is using the address book application,the user may select an address saved in the address book to get drivingdirections to the address.

At step 31, the user taps onto the action menu button to open the actionmenu that lists the actions that may be performed by software plug-in 25from the local application. The actions performed include launchingother local applications, launching web sites, returning to the mainmenu, disconnecting from the Internet, among others.

At step 32, the user selects the action to be performed by softwareplug-in 25. At this step, in case the user requests to launch a web siteto access information for a given data record of the local application,software plug-in 25 retrieves the parameters associated with the datarecord to include in the URL to be opened. For example, if the user isusing the address book application to get driving directions to a givenaddress, software plug-in 25 inserts the address in the URL for theappropriate web query.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an illustrative view of action menu itemsaccessible from any local application is described. Action menu item 34a enables the user to return to the main menu of handheld Internetappliance 20 from any local application, while action menu item 34 benables the user to disconnect from the Internet. Action item 34 claunches the e-mail application from any local application. Action item34 d launches a financial web site to display the user's financialportfolio, and action item 34 e launches a travel web site that allowsthe user to check and make travel reservations.

In a preferred embodiment, when the user selects action item 34 c tolaunch the e-mail application, software plug-in 25 automatically insertsa selected address in the “Send To” e-mail field. Similarly, when theuser selects action item 34 e to make travel reservations, softwareplug-in 25 may automatically fill in the dates, times, and traveldeparture and destination information.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an illustrative view of action menu itemsaccessible from the address book application is described. Action menuitems 35 a-d may be selected from the address book application inaddition to the action menu items shown in FIG. 5. Action menu item 35 alaunches a web site to display a map of the region near a selectedaddress saved in the address book. Action menu item 35 b launches a website to give driving directions to a selected address saved in theaddress book, while action menu item 35 c launches a web site to givedriving directions from a selected address saved in the address book. Inthe case of action menu item 35 b, the user needs to enter the startingaddress in an on-line form provided in the web site, while in the caseof action menu item 35 c, the user needs to enter the destinationaddress in the on-line form. Alternatively, the user may select anotheraddress in the address book to be automatically entered in the on-lineform as the starting or destination address.

Finally, action menu item 35 d enables the user to find a shopspecialized in a given category that is near a selected address saved inthe address book. For example, the user may select action menu item 35 dto find the nearest restaurants or coffee shops to an address saved inthe address book.

Referring now to FIG. 7, an exemplary URL and associated parameterslaunched from the address book PIM application to find drivingdirections to a selected address saved in the address book is described.URL 36 launches the www.vicinity.com web site belonging to VicinityCorp., of Sunnyvale, Calif., to get driving directions to a selectedaddress saved in the address book. Software plug-in 25 automaticallyfills in parameters 37 a-d in URL 36 with the street address (37 a),city (37 b), state (37 c), and zip code (37 d) of the selected addresssaved in the address book. The driving directions are then displayed onthe screen of handheld Internet appliance 20.

Referring now to FIG. 8, an illustrative view of a handheld Internetappliance screen displaying an address stored in the address book and anaction user interface for allowing the user to launch e-mail and websites displaying information associated with the address is described.Handheld Internet appliance screen 38 is displaying an address stored inthe address book application of the handheld Internet appliance. A usertaps onto a button displayed in handheld Internet appliance 38 todisplay action user interface 39. Action user interface 39 enables theuser to launch e-mail and web sites directly from the address bookapplication. The web sites may be used for displaying informationassociated with the address. User interface 39 also enables the user toreturn to the main menu of the handheld Internet appliance.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed above in detail, it will be understood that this descriptionis merely for purposes of illustration. Specific features of theinvention are shown in some drawings and not in others, and this is forconvenience only and any feature may be combined with another inaccordance with the invention. Steps of the described processes may bereordered or combined, and other steps may be included. Furthervariations will be apparent to one skilled in the art in light of thisdisclosure and are intended to fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

1. A system for automatically accessing Internet information from afirst local application on a handheld Internet appliance, the systemcomprising: a software plug-in to automatically launch a second localapplication from the first local application and to automaticallytransfer information obtained from a web site and stored in a localdatabase in the handheld Internet appliance to the second localapplication; a user interface in the first local application to enable auser to launch the second local application from the first localapplication, the user interface comprising a button to display a menuwith links to the second local application; and the local databaseprogrammed to store the information obtained from the web site; whereinthe user interface in an address book application comprises links toenable the user to perform a plurality of actions, the plurality ofactions comprising: returning to a main menu of the handheld Internetappliance with a single tap on the user interface menu; disconnectingfrom the Internet with a single tap on the user interface menu; sendingan e-mail from the address book application; launching a financial website with a single tap on the user interface menu; launching a travelweb site with a single tap on the user interface menu; mapping anaddress stored in the address book application; getting drivingdirections to an address stored in the address book application; gettingdriving directions from an address stored in the address bookapplication; and finding a commercial location nearest to an addressstored in the address book application.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein sending an e-mail from the address book application comprises:selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the datarecord associated with the e-mail recipient; extracting the name of thee-mail recipient from the data record; and automatically filling thee-mail recipient field with the name of the e-mail recipient extractedfrom the data record.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein mapping anaddress stored in the address book application comprises: selecting adata record stored in the address book application, the data recordcomprising the address to be mapped; launching a web site proving mapsof addresses; and automatically filling the web site's URL with theaddress to be mapped.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein getting drivingdirections from an address stored in the address book applicationcomprises: selecting a data record stored in the address bookapplication, the data record comprising the address from which drivingdirections are requested; launching a web site providing drivingdirections; and automatically filling an on-line form in the web sitecorresponding to the starting address with the data record.
 5. Thesystem of claim 4, further comprising automatically filling an on-lineform in the web site corresponding to a destination address with anaddress selected by the user and stored in the address book application.6. The system of claim 1, wherein finding a commercial location nearestto an address stored in the address book application comprises:selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the datarecord comprising the address for which a nearest commercial location isdesired; launching a web site providing addresses of commerciallocations in a given neighborhood; automatically filling the web site'sURL field corresponding to the neighborhood with the data recordselected from the address book application.
 7. A system forautomatically accessing Internet information from a first localapplication on a handheld Internet appliance, the system comprising: asoftware plug-in to automatically launch a second local application anda web site from the first local application; a user interface in thefirst local application to enable a user to launch the second localapplication and the web site from the first local application, the userinterface comprising a button to display a menu with links to the secondlocal application and the web site, wherein the user interface in anaddress book application comprises links to enable the user to perfonn aplurality of actions, the plurality of actions comprising: returning toa main menu of the handheld Internet appliance with a single tap on theuser interface menu; disconnecting from the Internet with a single tapon the user interface menu; sending an e-mail from the address bookapplication; launching a financial web site with a single tap on theuser interface menu; launching a travel web site with a single tap onthe user interface menu; mapping an address stored in the address bookapplication; getting driving directions to an address stored in theaddress book application; getting driving directions from an addressstored in the address book application; and finding a commerciallocation newest to an address stored in the address book application;wherein getting driving directions to an address stored in the addressbook application comprises: selecting a data record stored in theaddress book application, the data record comprising the address towhich driving directions are requested; launching a web site providingdriving directions; and automatically filling an on-line form in the website corresponding to the destination address with the data record and adatabase programmed to store the information required to create thelinks in the user interface.
 8. A system for automatically accessingInternet information from a first local application on a handheldInternet appliance, the system comprising: a software plug-in toautomatically launch a second local application and a web site from thefirst local application; a user interface in the first local applicationto enable a user to launch the second local application and the web sitefrom the first local application, the user interface comprising a buttonto display a menu with links to the second local application and the website, wherein the user interface in an address book applicationcomprises links to enable the user to perform a plurality of actions,the plurality of actions comprising: returning to a main menu of thehandheld Internet appliance with a single tap on the user interfacemenu; disconnecting from the Internet with a single tap on the userinterface menu; sending an e-mail from the address book application;launching a financial web site with a single tap on the user interfacemenu; launching a travel web site with a single tap on the userinterface menu; mapping an address stored in the address bookapplication; getting driving directions to an address stored in theaddress book application; getting driving directions from an addressstored in the address book application; and finding a commerciallocation nearest to an address stored in the address book application;and wherein sending an e-mail from the address book applicationcomprises: selecting a data record stored in the address bookapplication, the data record associated with the e-mail recipient;extracting the name of the e-mail recipient from the data record; andautomatically filling the e-mail recipient field with the name of thee-mail recipient extracted from the data record; and further comprisingautomatically filling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to astarting address with an address selected by the user and stored in theaddress book application; and a database progranmied to store theinformation required to create the links in the user interface.
 9. Amethod for automatically launching a plurality of local applications anda plurality of web sites from an already open local application on ahandheld Internet appliance, the method comprising: providing a softwareplug-in to automatically launch the plurality of local applications andthe plurality of web sites from the already open local application andto obtain information required by the plurality of local applicationsand the plurality of web sites from another web site; providing a userinterface in the already open local application to enable a user tolaunch the plurality of local applications and the plurality of websites from the already open local application, the user interfacecomprising a button to display a menu with links to each of the localapplications from the plurality of local applications and each of theweb sites from the plurality of web sites; and providing a databaseprogrammed to store the information required to create the links in theuser interface; and wherein the user interface in an address bookapplication comprises links to enable the user to perform a plurality ofactions, the plurality of actions comprising: returning to a main menuof the handheld Internet appliance with a single tap on the userinterface menu; disconnecting from the Internet with a single tap on theuser interface menu; sending an e-mail from the address bookapplication; launching a financial web site with a single tap on theuser interface menu; launching a travel web site with a single tap onthe user interface menu; mapping an address stored in the address bookapplication; getting driving directions to an address stored in theaddress book application; getting driving directions from an addressstored in the address book application; and finding a commerciallocation nearest to an address stored in the address book application.10. The method of claim 9, wherein sending an e-mail from the addressbook application comprises: selecting a data record stored in theaddress book application, the data record associated with the e-mailrecipient; extracting the name of the e-mail recipient from the datarecord; and automatically filling the e-mail recipient field with thename of the e-mail recipient extracted from the data record.
 11. Themethod of claim 9, wherein mapping an address stored in the address bookapplication comprises: selecting a data record stored in the addressbook application, the data record comprising the address to be mapped;launching a web site proving maps of addresses; and automaticallyfilling the web site's URL with the address to be mapped.
 12. The methodof claim 9, wherein getting driving directions to an address stored inthe address book application comprises: selecting a data record storedin the address book application, the data record comprising the addressto which driving directions are requested; launching a web siteproviding driving directions; and automatically filling an on-line formin the web site corresponding to the destination address with the datarecord.
 13. The method of claim 12, further comprising automaticallyfilling an on-line form in the web site corresponding to a startingaddress with an address selected by the user and stored in the addressbook application.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein getting drivingdirections from an address stored in the address book applicationcomprises: selecting a data record stored in the address bookapplication, the data record comprising the address from which drivingdirections are requested; launching a web site providing drivingdirections; and automatically filling an on-line form in the web sitecorresponding to the starting address with the data record.
 15. Themethod of claim 14, further comprising automatically filling an on-lineform in the web site corresponding to a destination address with anaddress selected by the user and stored in the address book application.16. The method of claim 9, wherein finding a commercial location nearestto an address stored in the address book application comprises:selecting a data record stored in the address book application, the datarecord comprising the address for which a nearest commercial location isdesired; launching a web site providing addresses of commerciallocations in a given neighborhood; automatically filling the web site'sURL field corresponding to the neighborhood with the data recordselected from the address book application.
 17. A handheld Internetappliance for accessing a plurality of local applications and aplurality of web sites, the handheld Internet appliance comprising: amain menu with buttons for accessing the plurality of localapplications; a wireless modem for connecting to the Internet; aplurality of software routines for accessing the Internet; a softwareplug-in to automatically launch the plurality of local applications andthe plurality of web sites from an already launched local application; auser interface to enable a user to launch the plurality of localapplications and the plurality of web sites from the already launchedlocal application, the user interface comprising a button to display amenu with links to each of the local applications from the plurality oflocal applications and each of the web sites from the plurality of websites, wherein the user interface in an address book applicationcomprises links to enable the user to perform a plurality of actions,the plurality of actions comprising: returning to a main menu of thehandheld Internet appliance with a single tap on the user interfacemenu; disconnecting from the Internet with a single tap on the userinterface menu; sending an e-mail from the address book application;launching a financial web site with a single tap on the user interfacemenu; launching a travel web site with a single tap on the userinterface menu; mapping an address stored in the address bookapplication; getting driving directions to an address stored in theaddress book application; getting driving directions from an addressstored in the address book application; and finding a commerciallocation nearest to an address stored in the address book application,wherein getting driving directions to an address stored in the addressbook application comprises: selecting a data record stored in theaddress book application, the data record comprising the address towhich driving directions are requested; launching a web site providingdriving directions; and automatically filling an on-line form in the website corresponding to the destination address with the data record; anda database prograninied to store the information required to create thelinks in the user interface.